Floor SpeechNeutral2026-04-22

HONORING DR. STACY WHITE

EnvironmentCrime & JusticeLaborCivil Rights

Context

On 2026-04-22, Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS-2) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING DR. STACY WHITE" in the House. The speech addressed the environment and also covered crime and justice, labor policy.

Full Text

HONORING DR. STACY WHITE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 71 (Wednesday, April 22, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 22, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E353] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING DR. STACY WHITE ______ HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON of mississippi in the house of representatives Wednesday, April 22, 2026 Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Dr. Stacy J. White, a distinguished educator, scholar, and community historian whose work has made a lasting impact on the Mississippi Delta. Born in Indianola, Mississippi, to Dorsey M. White, Jr. and Bernice Magruder White, Dr. White was raised in a family deeply rooted in the Delta's culture and history, fostering her lifelong commitment to education and the preservation of local heritage. She graduated from Greenville High School and earned dual bachelor's degrees in sociology/social work and computer science from the University of Mississippi, a master's degree in computer science from Jackson State University, and a Ph.D. in instructional systems from Mississippi State University. As a graduate student, she contributed to the JSU/NASA Project and later worked as a computer image analyst at the John C. Stennis Space Center. Dr. White returned home to the Delta, where she devoted more than 30 years to education as a tenured associate professor of computer science at Mississippi Valley State University, where she continues to teach part-time. She secured two NASA education grants totaling approximately $1 million to advance STEM education in the region, with research presented nationally and internationally. She is especially remembered for preparing her students with discipline, confidence, and a strong foundation for success. Beyond the classroom, Dr. White has played a vital role in preserving Civil Rights history in Sunflower County. She organized multiple Civil Rights Reunions, reconnecting Freedom Summer volunteers and local activists, and served on the National Fannie Lou Hamer Statue Committee and as Co-Chair of the Dr. Clinton Battle Mississippi Freedom Trail Marker Committee. She also helped develop the Indianola Civil Rights History Driving Tour. Her service includes leadership roles with the Mississippi Blues Foundation, the Sunflower County NAACP, the Indianola Historic Preservation Commission, and the Sunflower County Civil Rights Organization. An accomplished author, Dr. White has produced essays and historical works that honor the stories, resilience, and legacy of Delta communities. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Stacy J. White for her outstanding contributions to education, history, and her community. Her legacy reflects a lifelong commitment to knowledge, service, and the preservation of our shared heritage. ____________________

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HONORING DR. STACY WHITE Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 71 (Wednesday, April 22, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 22, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E353] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING DR. STACY WHITE ______ HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON of mississippi in the house of representatives Wednesday, April 22, 2026 Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Dr. Stacy J. White, a distinguished educator, scholar, and community historian whose work has made a lasting impact on the Mississippi Delta. Born in Indianola, Mississippi, to Dorsey M. White, Jr. and Bernice Magruder White, Dr. White was raised in a family deeply rooted in the Delta's culture and history, fostering her lifelong commitment to education and the preservation of local heritage. She graduated from Greenville High School and earned dual bachelor's degrees in sociology/social work and computer science from the University of Mississippi, a master's degree in computer science from Jackson State University, and a Ph.D. in instructional systems from Mississippi State University. As a graduate student, she contributed to the JSU/NASA Project and later worked as a computer image analyst at the John C. Stennis Space Center. Dr. White returned home to the Delta, where she devoted more than 30 years to education as a tenured associate professor of computer science at Mississippi Valley State University, where she continues to teach part-time. She secured two NASA education grants totaling approximately $1 million to advance STEM education in the region, with research presented nationally and internationally. She is especially remembered for preparing her students with discipline, confidence, and a strong foundation for success. Beyond the classroom, Dr. White has played a vital role in preserving Civil Rights history in Sunflower County. She organized multiple Civil Rights Reunions, reconnecting Freedom Summer volunteers and local activists, and served on the National Fannie Lou Hamer Statue Committee and as Co-Chair of the Dr. Clinton Battle Mississippi Freedom Trail Marker Committee. She also helped develop the Indianola Civil Rights History Driving Tour. Her service includes leadership roles with the Mississippi Blues Foundation, the Sunflower County NAACP, the Indianola Historic Preservation Commission, and the Sunflower County Civil Rights Organization. An accomplished author, Dr. White has produced essays and historical works that honor the stories, resilience, and legacy of Delta communities. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Stacy J. White for her outstanding contributions to education, history, and her community. Her legacy reflects a lifelong commitment to knowledge, service, and the preservation of our shared heritage. ____________________